Cork look to harness spirit of 2009 win over Tyrone
Cork's Patrick Kelly tries to get away from Owen Mulligan of Tyrone in the 2009 All-Ireland SFC semi-final. Picture: Matt Browne/Sportsfile
As Cork go to Tyrone this weekend knowing that a win would secure promotion from Division 2 of the Allianz FL and a place in the top flight for the first time in a decade, they will seek to harness the spirit of 2009.
While it might seem strange for an All-Ireland SFC semi-final win to be seen as transformative for a county that were in the final two years beforehand, the victory over the Red Hands 18 years ago was such a triumph.
There had been some off-field upheaval in the time between Billy Morgan taking Cork to the 2007 final, while the squad had evolved with the addition of two sets of All-Ireland U21 winners. Though two successive Munster titles had been claimed, Cork were still underdogs in the last four against reigning champions Tyrone.
“This was one of those frantic games, really high-energy,” said Patrick Kelly as chose it as his most memorable in Cork Football: Game of My LIfe.
“Thinking back now, it’s amazing how different it was – the game changed so much in such a short space of time. It was still very traditional, man for man, a lot of ball kicked into the full-forward line for 50-50 battles. Kickout strategies were non-existent, basically it was a case of just launching it. There were loads of turnovers and none of the long passages of play where one team keeps possession for a few minutes.”
Any question marks about whether Tyrone’s fabled intensity could be matched were answered in spades. Mickey Harte’s side were the ones left reeling as Cork pressed and harried their opponents into possession turnovers, while crucially taking any scoring opportunities.
By the end of the first quarter of an hour, all of the Cork starting forwards had scored and, between the eighth and 15th minutes, Cork outscored their opponents 1-5 to no score, Daniel Goulding with the goal.
A point by the same player on 19 was the perfect example of how hard Cork were working, as the Éire Óg man stripped Conor Gormley of possession before converting to increase the lead to 1-7 to 0-3.
By half-time, the Red Hands – for whom reigning Footballer of The Year Seán Cavanagh had been unable to start – had reduced the gap slightly, to 1-9 to 0-7, but they also now had the advantage of possessing an extra man after O’Connor’s red card for a second bookable offence.
Many in Croke Park must have anticipated that Cork would be hanging on after the restart, but the reality was nothing of the sort. Solid defending prevented Tyrone from every harnessing any kind of momentum and the shuttling back of wing-forwards Kelly and Paul Kerrigan ensured that the numerical disadvantage never felt like a factor.
Any Tyrone score was answered as the second period was drawn 0-4 each, Cork never letting up in terms of energy or effort. When sub Fintan Goold rounded off a good move to leave Cork 1-13 to 0-11 in front, the Rebel faithful could breathe easy and marvel at a job well done.
“I do think that this was a game that gave us belief that that squad was good enough,” said Kelly.
“Obviously, losing the final to Kerry was horrendous but we did come back after 2009 with a real belief that there was an All-Ireland within touching distance. It was just a case of getting that bit better again.
“We won the league in 2010 to back that up so you’re coming off winning Division 2 and then Division 1, coupled with beating Tyrone in an All-Ireland semi-final – there’s massive confidence that you’re right there.
“I don’t think you could over-state how important or satisfying the Tyrone game was from that point of view.”
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